'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎100r] (204/312)

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little grass still grew on these slopes, and vineyards clustered round the
villages.
The road keeps winding along the slope by a stream, now and then des
cending into the bed of it. The new road is not continued farther than the
southern entrance of the pass. There is no attempt at road making in the pass,
but the track could easily be improved into a good cart road. At 36 miles
the valley opened out, and we entered Zakho, where we halted (1,400').
Zakho. —Zakho is a place of 500 houses, built on a low rocky island about
800 yards long by 400 yards broad, formed by the Khabur River. It is con
nected with the left bank by a good stone bridge of three irregular shaped
arches 90 yards long, with a roadway of 10 feet.
The northern arm of the Khabur is not bridged ; and is not fordable yet,
but will be so in a few days.
The current in both branches is rapid, and is still in high water from the
melting of the snows. In floods the water is said to rush over the bridge,
and the western end of the island is subject to floods.
The Khabur rises in Berwari and the mountain districts north of it and is
navigable at certain seasons from here to its junction with the Tigris. Above
Zakho, it is a rapid mountain stream in a narrow rocky bed. Below, it spreads
out into several channels over a shingly bed from 300 to 400 yards broad.
A large raft, on its way to Mosul, left this evening, but grounded 6
miles down and had to be lightened to get off.
The rafts are a framework of timber supported on 100 or 200 inflated
sheepskins, like those at Mosul.
A supply of poplars, 30 to 40 feet long, for constructing them is kept on
the bank above the bridge.
Two miles upstream from Zakho is another curious masonry bridge with a
central arch of 40 feet span of a very high pomted shape.
It has no parapet; the roadway is 15' wide, with a steep ascent and
descent to the top of the arch over rounded paving stones slippery as glass.
At the east end of the island, on a small cliff, is an old Kurdish castle, now
used as the residence of the Kaimmakam and quarters for Zaptiyahs consisting
of an irregular shaped building with loopholed bastions, about 60 by 40 yards.
The inhabitants of Zakho are mostly Kurds, with a large number of Jews,
one estimate giving half the inhabitants as Jews.
Coal is found in the Judi Dagh at Kumr Maden near the small Christian
„ , . villag-e of Billo, seven hours distant on horseback by a
rough difficult track from Zakho.
It takes two days to bring it by mule caravan and from here it is put on
rafts and taken down to Baghdad.
The coal held is a rich one, and would pay well if properly worked, but at
present work has ceased. This coal was burnt on the Turkish Tigris steamers,
but English coal has superseded it. It is a bituminous smoky description.
19th June.— General direction, W. Leaving the mules at Zakho, I
hired post horses, and started west along the river to Eeishkhabur. There is
a good broad track skirting the river on one hand and the foot of a line of
rounded gravelly spur from the Jabal Abiadli on the other. The summit
ridge of the range is composed of vertical sheets of limestone, and is quite
impassable. These outliers would form an excellent position for redoubts
to defend the Zakho Pass. On the right bank of the river is a plain which
extends for 5 to 6 miles to the foot of the Judi Dagh.
Ziarat Khalil Aghwar.'
in a large grove of oaks.
-At 6 miles passed the Ziarat of Khalil Aghwar